by ‘Jola Sotubo

According to a recently released Federal Roads Safety Corps (FRSC) report, not less than 1,437 people died within 6 months in bus crashes across the country.

The FRSC revealed this yesterday, in Jos, Plateau State, through the  Corps Marshal, Osita Chidoka, who said that 1,437 deaths were recorded between January and June 2013 in 1,397 road crashes involving buses nationwide. The revelation was made as part of a message to commemorate  the start of a sensitization campaign organized by the FRSC and ARM Pension Managers.

According to reports, Chidoka, represented by the FRSC Zonal Commanding Officer, Hussaini Alhassan, said 6,831 persons were injured during the period.

He said: “Within the last seven months, speed violation accounted for about 65 per cent of the causative factors of road accidents and fatalities in the country. “Between January and June 2013, a total of 1,397 buses were involved in road traffic accidents, killing 1,437 and injuring 6,831 persons.”

Chidoka said that the situation needed to be urgently addressed and called on the stakeholders to embrace the use of speed limit devices.
He added: “The use of speed limiting devices presents us this opportunity as it makes it impossible for drivers to go beyond the regulated speed. “Speed limiting devices have been found to be an effective means of preventing speed violation and resultant consequences.”

He listed other benefits to include fuel economy and increase in driver’s ability to manoeuvre in the event of accident.

In his address, the Regional Head of ARM pension managers, North Central, Godswill Egbe, urged all stakeholders to cooperate with the FRSC to reduce road accidents.

Egbe described as worrisome the high rate of accidents involving buses, saying this prompted the company’s collaboration with the FRSC to create awareness and reduce road accidents to the barest minimum.

“Since the installation of speed limit devices in vehicles has been adjudged as one of the most effective ways of addressing over speeding, all stakeholders should commit themselves to the initiative,” he said.

Earlier, the Acting Sector Commander of the FRSC in Plateau State, Lawrence Igwe, had thanked the company for sponsoring the campaign.

The campaign brought together members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, security agencies, tricycle owners, commercial motorcyclists, bus drivers, students and host of others.

Various papers were presented during the event while the National Youth Service Corps Safety Club of Jos North Local Government Area staged a drama on safe driving.